Streaming Internet Music Via DAC

[crusaderlord]

I was planning to add an Arcam Tuner to my set up but have recently gravitated much more towards internet streaming via wifi and itouch including Radio Paradise / BBC I-Player and now Spotify.

I no longer see a real need for a tuner but am keen to uplift the streaming quality (if possible) and consider a Wadia dock and DAC. I have 2 questions which i hope i can get some feedback on.

1. Given radio streaming is limited in bit rate would switching my current arcam rdock for wadia / dac simply show up the limitations of streaming rather than actually improve the sound. Most of my favourite music is still CD based rather than itouch files.

2. If it sounds like a good move what DAC would suffice. My budget would be c£600 but including the Wadia so i am thinking Dacmagic or Little Dot Dac maybe. Are these good enough or should i wait and save for say the Benchmark.

Thanks for your help

 

[lordmortlock]

Are you thinking wireless or wired? If wireless streaming is an option I'd look at an airport express into a bereford or dacmagic into your system. That way you can use the Airfoil software (£15 or so)to stream any internet content.

You can also use itunes this way and, if you have an iphone or itouch, control it with the remote app. An airport should be about £50 and a new beresford/dacmagic about £200.

This set up is upgradeable too as you could have other airports in other rooms - sonos style.

 

[crusaderlord]

I am wireless - but when i used the Airfoil software with the i-touch application i kept getting a buffer jump every 1 minute which was very annoying. It is very slight, probably half a second but still a glitch that i couldnt stand.

I get a much better feed using the i-touch as the source and streaming direct using the router through i-touch applications.

 

[lordmortlock]

Interesting - defo no buffer issues here at all. I can understand why its put you off. Any ideas out there guys? Maybe JD and Prof can help.